…Osun AG’s counsel opposes PDP, APC joinder applications as UBA calls for adjournment sine die
By Adeyinka Adeniran
An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has adjourned till Friday, October 10, 2025 for further hearing of a suit involving the withholding of funds of the 30 local governments areas of Osun state in a suit involving the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
The court also extended its earlier order restraining the bank (UBA) Plc from paying, releasing, or tampering with funds belonging to the council areas.
According to the Court, presided over by Justice Ladiran Akintola, the order will remain in force until tomorrow, Friday, October 10, 2025, when the matter is scheduled for further hearing.
Justice Akintola said the extension became necessary to ensure that all parties in the case were granted the right to fair hearing in line with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The case is adjourned till Friday, October 10, 2025, for further hearing, while the interim injunction shall continue to subsist,” the judge ruled.
During the proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff, a learned silk, Chief Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN), informed the court that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had filed an application seeking to be joined in the suit.
He, however, disclosed that his team would oppose the application when it is brought before the court.
“Even though the PDP has a constitutional right to fair hearing under Section 36, we shall oppose their application for joinder. The case is narrow and straightforward; there is no need for multiple parties,” Adetunmbi said.
The senior advocate also noted that Mr. Kasim Gbadamosi (SAN), who holds the brief of Kunle Adegoke, SAN, for the APC ex-council chairmen, had filed a fresh application in addition to an earlier one on the same matter of joinder.
Responding, Gbadamosi stated that he intended to withdraw the new application, arguing that the issue of jurisdiction did not require a formal application.
“I will withdraw the application. The issue before the court is jurisdictional, and as such, it doesn’t require a formal application,” he said.
He further argued that the case before the High Court amounted to an abuse of judicial process since a similar matter was already pending before the Supreme Court.
“The matter is premised on a case already before the Supreme Court and should therefore be struck out,” he added.
Also addressing the court, counsel to UBA Plc, Mutalib Adebayo Ojo (SAN), aligned with the argument, urging the court to adjourn the case sine die (indefinitely) pending the determination of the matter at the apex court.
“We observe that this suit is predicated upon a case already before the Supreme Court. Consequently, it should be adjourned sine die until the determination of that matter. UBA is not a party to the Supreme Court case; we are merely a neutral party in this process,” Ojo submitted.
After hearing all arguments, Justice Akintola adjourned the case till Friday for ruling.
Corenews reports that the court had earlier granted the following interim orders as sought by the claimants.
An order of interim injunction restraining UBA from paying, releasing, disbursing, or tampering with funds in the disputed local government accounts.
An order of mandatory injunction directing UBA to place a “Post No Debit” (PND) restriction on all affected accounts pending the hearing of the substantive motion on notice.
The affected accounts include those of the 30 local government areas of Osun State from Atakumosa East to Osogbo each identified by name and account number with UBA.
The suit, filed as Suit No. 1/1167/2025 before Court No. 5 of the Ibadan Judicial Division, is being handled by Olalekan Adeoye, Esq., on behalf of the claimants.
A second case on the same matter filed by the local government chairmen elected under the PDP was also adjourned for hearing tomorrow.
